Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Are my contaminated rags or wipes hazardous waste
HAZARDOUS
If you do not reuse your solvent contaminated rags or wipes, the Department pf Environment (DOE) regulates them as schedule waste if they are a listed hazardous waste, of they exhibit one or more hazardous characteristic such as ignitability or toxicity.
NOT HAZARDOUS
If you are able to reuse your solvent contaminated rags or wipes, the DOE will not require you to manage them as solid or hazardous waste provided they are managed in an environmentally safe manner as follows.

How should I manage my contaminated rags or wipes in an environmentally safe manner?
Contaminated rags or wipes should not be dripping with solvent. Liquids in containers of contaminated rags or wipes may cause the material to be regulated as hazardous waste. You should prevent liquid from accumulating in the containers.
Store contaminated rags or wipes in a covered container away from sources of ignition. Containers should be clearly labeled.
Do not place different type of material (e.g. rags and wipes) into the same container.
Do not put together waste in a container of contaminated rags or wipes.

How should I manage my contaminated rags or wipes in an environmentally safe manner?
Handle contaminated rags or wipes using a legitimate management practice such as laundering (Tex Cycle). You should have contractual agreement for this service. If you fail to follow these criteria, you will have to manage your contaminated rags or wipes as a hazard waste.

What are acceptable alternative management practice?
Laundering contaminated rags or wipes is acceptable. So is wringing them out, as long as they can be reused!
Cloth wipes can be sent to a laundry (Tex Cycle) for cleaning and reuse.
Certain non-textile wipes can also be sent to laundry (Tex Cycle) and then returned for reuse
Dispose through incineration. Any residue or solvent waste generated from the management of these materials is a schedule waste and you must determine if it is hazardous waste and manage it appropriately. Your company can accumulate your contaminated rags at a single location owned by your company provided you follow the steps for environmental safety listed in this sheet

Do I need special permission to manage contaminated rags or wipes
DOE requires a license to remove contaminants from rags or wipes if this activity is done at either the generation location or at the laundry facility where the rags or considered by wipes are sent to be cleaned. Alternatives to laundering will be considered by DOE on a case by case basis. You should contact your local DOE office for approval. A commercial off-site collection facility that plans to launder contaminated wipes or rags needs a schedule waste processing license or a hazardous waste operating license. Any such commercial laundry facility with a discharge should have a treatment plant approved by the DOE Schedule Waste Section before discharge from their laundry into the main stream.

What do I need to know about transporting these contaminated, reusable rags or wipes?
If these materials were to be laundered and reused (e.g. laundering), DOE will require a transportation license and environmentally safe management practices are to be applied before and during transport. Transporting rags and wipes to facilities where they will be reclaimed requires a schedule waste and sometimes a hazardous waste transportation license. DOE consignment note (sixth schedule) requirement for hazardous/ schedule waste transportation must be followed.

Disposal in a landfill?
The department does not recommend disposal of contaminated rags or wipes in a solid waste landfill. Contaminated rags or wipes that are not reused is considered schedule waste and possibly hazardous. You must determine whether or not they are hazardous waste and manage them appropriately. If the contaminated rags or wipes to be disposed of are hazardous waste, you must send them to a licensed schedule waste facility using a licensed schedule waste transporter. Many generators choose to avoid landfill disposal due to liability concerns.

How does Tex Cycle wiper cloth rental system works?
Based on the factors like the number of employees using wiper cloths, your usage of another wiping product or your usage with another service, we estimate your requirements for TC wiper cloths.
After we have agreed on your expected usage, we determine the number of TC wiper cloths assigned to your account to support that level of usage. The quantity is called your inventory.
Your inventory should include enough wipes so that you do not run out of stock at any time in between the pick up and delivery cycle.
Each delivery, we pick up the wipes that you have used, count them in our plant, and have them replaced immediately.

How does Tex Cycle wiper cloth rental system works?
It is normal that some cloths will be lost in use in your plant. It is very common that 2%-10% of your monthly usage will be lost. These units are usually accidentally thrown in the trash or pilfered. To prevent shortage we provide an automatic replacement programme that replaces lost or pilfered cloths. (Excess losses will be charged)
We work with your employee to help control wiper cloth loss by providing used education, cloth conservation posters and quarterly usage recaps.
It is the job of our Service Representative to monitor your weekly usage, inventory and losses so that you always have an adequate supply of clean cloth, at the lowest cost.
If you need extra cloths, we will deliver within Peninsular Malaysia usually within 24 hours.